Summary
- Top-down games like Foxhole and Rustler offer unique gameplay experiences for players to enjoy.
- Developers are still valuing the top-down perspective, creating more realistic open-world experiences.
- Games like GTA 2 inspire modern top-down open-world games, providing chaotic and fun gameplay.
Although technological advancements have led some of the developers to ditch some old-school camera types like top-down and go fully third-person, top-down games still exist, and they still deliver tons of fun if other aspects of the game are done correctly as well.
The fact that the top-down view gives players a better environmental awareness still makes it a perfect choice for hack-and-slash or turn-based combat systems. And the good news is that developers still value the top-down perspective, and they do benefit from the technological advancements to make open-world top-down experiences with more realistic visuals and bigger worlds.
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8 Foxhole
Work Within An Army To Define The Fate Of Battles
Foxhole
- Released
- August 4, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
When talking about MMOs, the first things that come to mind are probably games like Genshin Impact, Grand Theft Auto Online, Destiny 2, or some other sci-fi experiences, but Foxhole takes quite a unique take on this genre by strictly focusing on every detail of a battle.
Instead of just magnifying the action part of the game, Foxhole tries to value all reasons behind a front's victory or failure equally. The roles are no longer limited to being a trooper or a frontline fighter. Logistics also plays a crucial role, and the same goes for support and engineering units.
In Foxhole, each role is like a gear in a clock. If a team lacks good work in one part, it will fail, no matter how good they are on the frontlines.
7 Minishoot Adventures
An Open-World Bullet Hell Chaos
Minishoot' Adventures
- Released
- April 2, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- SoulGame Studio
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Twin-Stick Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
At first glimpse, Minishoot' Adventures looks like a charming experience set in a colorful world, but don't let the cuteness of the art hide the hardcore battles! This game is recommended to the die-hard fans of the bullet hell genre, and the open-world take helps a lot with improving the gameplay loop.
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Upon exploring a gorgeous, handcrafted world, meet some deadly enemies hidden inside dungeons. Beating each enemy is an opportunity to upgrade the spaceship and its weapons to prepare for the harder battles ahead.
6 GTA 2
Old But Still Aging Well
Grand Theft Auto 2
- Released
- February 13, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North, Rockstar Games
- Franchise
- Grand Theft Auto
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PC, Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo Game Boy Color
Although it might have lost its glory with the massive technological advancements over the years, Grand Theft Auto 2 is still holding up well and is still quite playable. The series will probably never go back to its top-down perspective, but the chaotic gameplay is still fun and smooth.
Grand Theft Auto 2 is the source of inspiration for any modern top-down open-world experiences, especially the ones that try to recreate similar vibes. The game is played almost like 3D entries of the series. Players can rob every vehicle they want, they can raise chaos in the city by shooting and killing, and they have lots of action-packed missions to complete in between.
5 Rustler
A Medieval Take On The Original GTA
Rustler
- Released
- February 18, 2021
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Rustler is a near-perfect translation of Grand Theft Auto 2 into the modern gaming standards, but within a medieval era. The developers have successfully taken inspiration from both old-school and modern games of the Grand Theft Auto series, and the result is a fun and chaotic open-world experience with a light-hearted story that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Considering the game's era, cars have been replaced by horses, but raising chaos in the world is still quite easy, and the mission design is also intriguing, encouraging players to come back for more. Though the post-story experience might not be as satisfying as a GTA game.
4 American Fugitive
A Festival Of Crime And Action
American Fugitive
- Released
- May 21, 2019
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Telling a crime story in a small county of the United States back in the 1980s, American Fugitive is another great inspiration from Grand Theft Auto 2 with modern visuals, satisfying environment destruction, and an action-packed story about criminals.
The game has the players following a campaign within an open-world town. Players can steal cars, fight with police officers, and ram through anything blocking their path to complete their mission.
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The same developers released The Precinct as well, which is a lawful version of American Fugitive set in a compact city. Both games are quite fun and enjoyable with similar gameplay systems, but American Fugitive is just a little bit more chaotic for those who want to have unlimited fun!
3 Maniac
Vampire Survivor Meets Grand Theft Auto
Almost every Grand Theft Auto player has tried to reach the maximum wanted level at least once and then fight for survival. Maniac takes this specific part from Grand Theft Auto and turns it into an utterly satisfying video game, while also borrowing some features from Vampire Survivors.
The game is set in a highly destructible city, and the goal is to turn it upside down. There are multiple characters available that each of which comes with unique gear and abilities. Players must use their weapons to raise hell in the world while dealing with ever-growing waves of police forces trying to take them down.
- Developer: Transhuman Design
- Release Date: March 28, 2024
- Platform: PC
2 Running With Rifles
A Tactical Shooter Set In An Open-World Environment
- Developer: Osumia Games
- Release Date: April 2, 2015
- Platform: PC
Tired of all the explosions and chaos? Then let's switch to a more slow-paced tactical experience while staying true to the rules of open-world and top-down. There are many tactical top-down shooters in the market, but Running With Rifles is the game that takes that one extra step towards expanding its world. So, instead of trapping players in a linear story, this game lets them pick their own path.
Running With Rifles is a game for the dedicated. Those who have the patience to design a plan and follow it step-by-step. The game features on-foot combat as well as vehicles, but at the end of the day, it's the calculated moves that will be rewarded.
1 Darkwood
Experience A True Feel Of Horror And Survival
Darkwood
- Released
- August 18, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Acid Wizard Studio
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
It's been a long time since Darkwood was released, and yet no other survival experience has managed to meet its intensity. Darkwood never fails to put the player in an overly stressful situation, where the craving for staying alive meets the suspension of facing another deadly threat.
The best way to describe Darkwood is to call it a single-player and top-down version of DayZ. The game always follows an unexpected route, and players must be prepared for everything at any moment. The game features a day and night cycle. During the day, players must scavenge for resources, and when night falls, they need to reinforce their hideout and survive the brutal attacks.
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